General Debate 18 September 2026

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Cassandra

Baldrick’s cunning plan to win the election: create an additional supply and ownership/management system for supermarkets and thereby increase prices. Brilliant!

The only out is that Willis has said that the ComCom will investigate the idea. Betcha the conclusion will be nah. But I note that Willis is saying that this will result in cheaper groceries. BS.
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September 18, 2026 8:01am
- artemisia
  
  One food retailer never mentioned in the current headlong rush to increase competition is My Food Bag, largest supplier in a highly competitive meal kit / food supply sector. A few years back it was named as the third largest food retailer, behind the two biggies. Is it still third? Probably. These days its annual revenue is closing on $200 million, and it is profitable. How does 4% net profit compare to the big 2? Is it also excessive?
  
  Perhaps the ‘cost of living crisis’ less affects meal kit customers but there is a wider picture and impact. While revenue is clearly way lower than the other 2, there is the benefit to New Zealand artisan and other local providers directly supplying to MFB in significant quantity, less waste, plus the local value add and employment from ready-made meals expansion.
  
  And maybe politicians might consider the health benefits of MFB food deliveries compared to an average trolley at the supermarket.
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:12am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    There must be an opportunity for My Food Bag and the likes of UberFood and Deliver Easy to wind up their operations, improve their sourcing and compete with the biggies.
    
    The biggies would run interference with some big suppliers trying to block them supplying other entities but there are real possibilities for the boys on 100cc motorbikes and an insulated box.
    
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    September 18, 2026 8:28am
    - artemisia
      
      I expect most small scale deliveries to quickly go driverless, at least in urban areas.
      
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      September 18, 2026 8:46am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      Sorry it is a completely different market. The folk that go to PAK’nSAVE in Kaitaia would not know what my food bag is. Many of them could not cook the meals even with instructions.
      
      You know why we feeling poor? Because relative to the rest of the world we are getting poor.
      
      When you look through the 15 percent GST on supermarket food, which is zero rated in Australia, are groceries in Sydney cheaper than in Auckland? If they are cheaper what exactly are the causes? If someone answered those questions using evidence and analysis we might be able to have a sensible debate.
      
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      September 18, 2026 8:51am
      - imalwaysright
        
        First paragraph. Geographical bigotry. Didn’t know that was a thing.
        
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        September 18, 2026 8:59am
      - Tomtoddy
        
        the MFB market may be different but not the Uberfood or Deliver Easy cohort. They can afford KFC and Maccas.
        
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        September 18, 2026 9:09am
  - RichardF
    
    These meal kit companies rely on aggressive sales and discount tactics because the churn rate is so high. Only 20% of customers acquired will stick around for 12 months or more. 6 months is the drop off point for many. We have used several of the providers over the years. The novelty and convenience wears off when the price goes back to normal and you’re paying $55 for a meal you could make for $20 yourself. I dont think these companies are the answer to any food cost problem.
    
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    September 18, 2026 9:00am
- CJames
  
  One cannot understand the logic of National’s brainfart about splitting up supermarkets to lower prices. If there was any real sense to it, the data would already be there.
  I would not have any faith in Commerce Commission analysis. Bureaucrat economists are not known for common sense and their modeling make quite astounding assumptions. Think spherical cows.
  Or is this all a cunning plot by Luxon’s advisors to trade those who could p0ssibly vote ACT for the Remuera doctors’ wives disturbed by the Green Hamaslovers? That type of off-the-wall thinking (aka parallel universe) would not surprise me
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:16am
  - pdm
    
    My email to Nicola Willis earlier this morning.
    
    `The National Party I used to Vote for had values that did not extend to interfering with Privately Owned Businesses.
    
    What you propose is Communism and will only push prices higher.’
    
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    September 18, 2026 8:28am
  - MCōs
    
    The logic is to win votes.
    I’m picking the idea will be gone by lunchtime when coalition negotiations fire up.
    
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    September 18, 2026 8:38am
    - Swifty
      
      Yes.
      
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      September 18, 2026 9:00am
- gardenofearthlydelights
  
  I live on a tight budget. This morning I asked Google AI to compile a shopping list of my weekly essentials across all three supermarkets. If I only shop New world $131, only PackandSave $114, if all three (Woolworths didn’t have a full option) $99. It then mapped out the most efficient route and best time to shop when not busy. I will end up using about $3 of petrol extra. This is 14-30% saving. Somehow I don’t think any of the lefties in National, Labour or Greens can save me that much. Just on eggs and butter I can save big. Add in meat specials and other specials and savings add up quickly. The Grocer App used to do this but I think they stopped because supermarkets didn’t like it. Anyway Kiwibloggers I’m getting over $100 off my monthly shopping bill by using some free AI. Just a google AI search.
  
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  September 18, 2026 9:07am
Ghost

Calling the madam speaker a c**t. Such class shown by Debbie, then Willie…..

Article
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September 18, 2026 8:01am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Debbie and Willy measure their success by the column centimetres and seconds Tv exposure that they get. The easiest way to get that exposure is to use grossly defamatory and hideously obscene terms.
  Had Debbie referred to the speaker as “a contemptible and reprehensible individual” the meaning would have gone way over the heads of the people whose votes she is trying to win.
  I think it is sad that one must use that obscene word to get votes. It is a sign of a sick society.
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:20am
Ghost

What a sad pathetic little man

An AFP photo of Donald Trump examining a depiction of Washington’s Kennedy Centre apparently being demolished sparked widespread attention on Thursday after the President threatened to tear down the revered arts venue because he has been blocked from renaming it after himself.

Article
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September 18, 2026 8:03am
- mike
  
  If he can’t have his toys, it’s only natural to smash them. What toddler wouldn’t?
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:14am
  - David Garrett
    
    And again…this is getting very worrying…
    
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    September 18, 2026 8:29am
- CJames
  
  If you read the American articles, the circumstances of the photo indicate it is almost certainly trolling.
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:20am
  - mike
    
    Aren’t the yanks fortunate to have a president who concentrates on trolling on social media? In Trump’s case at least there is some benefit – the time spent trolling is time unavailable for random acts of misgovernment.
    
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    September 18, 2026 8:59am
  - Ghost
    
    yes, which makes him a sad pathetic little man, someone that is far below the office he holds.
    
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    September 18, 2026 9:10am
Tomtoddy

Yesterday, the 17th September 2026, was the hottest day ever recorded in our history since 2025.
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September 18, 2026 8:16am
- Cassandra
  
  Not in Tauranga. Pleasant but cool.
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:32am
- David Garrett
  
  Tom: I’m guessing there were hotter ones at various times in the past? It’s a bit early for me…
  
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  September 18, 2026 8:43am
Gravelroad

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361034250/comrade-luxon-wins-first-supermarket-race
This is what I find frustrating about the way the hierarchy at Stuff conducts itself.
Yes, it is an opinion piece, laughably published under “political analysis”.
It is paywalled.
It has the usual click bait headline.
But the reader has to progress to paragraph 4 before seeing any reference to the newly anointed “comrade” in the headline, at all.
It is manipulative and unprofessional.
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September 18, 2026 8:19am
Yvette

Would a third supermarket chain require Green administration to avoid ACT or National capitalists making it a financial success – well, you should get the gist of where this is going.
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September 18, 2026 8:45am
Yvette

New Zealand Police are apparently still active evaluating the Pike River Mine disaster through a multi-year re-investigation to determine whether criminal charges, including manslaughter, can be laid against key individuals.
• With further future cases, will precedents be established which may make the process faster?
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September 18, 2026 9:03am
Damocles11

I’m perturbed by the potent whiffs of corruption and glaring lack of accountability that are clearly discernible in New Zealand. The rotten apple that is poisoning the whole barrel is the way ‘indigenous’ entities have gotten away with fiscal blue murder, with the authorities too paralysed with fear over being called ‘racist’ to actually address the problem. That, plus the knee jerk response of elites to protect the status quo and cover up the issues. But covering up an abscess does not bring healing. Another example of the issue at the heart of our national malaise below –

https://x.com/Suitandtie9999/status/2099726020404506856
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September 18, 2026 9:04am
Positan

With Andrew Bayly’s revelation that he was effectively set up by the Chief Executive of ACC – and that the person he was alleged to have assaulted had NEVER made any complaint about Bayly touching him – will there now be consequences for the Chief Executive of ACC who seems to have vastly exaggerated the complaint against Bayly?

I certainly hope so !!!!!!!!
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September 18, 2026 9:09am

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